Conferencing: 3 Ways to Let Kids Lead

Conferencing:

3 Ways to Let Kids Lead

Conference time is right around the corner.  Are you looking for some fresh ideas that will get your students involved in their own conference?  

If your focus is...

• Students taking responsibility for their own learning through Student-Led Conferencing
• Utilizing data for student reflection and showing proof or evidence of growth
• Goal Setting and action plans...here are some ideas to consider!

Every school district has different parent-teacher conference requirements.  As a teacher and a parent, I have always felt meeting with parents two or more times per year is not too much to ask, whether students are struggling or performing at or above grade level.  Luckily, I have always been in district that have at least two conferences per year.

There are a variety of ways to conference with parents and students. I have always valued conferences where students lead and take responsibility for their own learning.  These three ways to encourage kids to LEAD have been successful conference models for my classroom.

1. Student-Led Conferences can be held anytime of the year. They are especially     beneficial  at the beginning of the year when students are reflecting on their growth and setting goals for the remainder of the year. Your students can take the lead in their conference using the GOOGLE SLIDE PORTFOLIO. Click here  I have also created a variety of activities/worksheets that will help students fill out their own individual portfolios. These worksheets can be found as a freebie on TpT called Student-Led Conference Sheets. Check them out in my store, Sparling's Spot.  Click here
2. Not interested or equipped to use Google Slides? Student-Led Conferences can also be achieved using the activities in the Conference Sheets Packet and a script that will guide them through their conference. The worksheets in the packet also allow students to utilize data, reflect on their growth and learning, brainstorm goals and develop action plans for the next semester.  Students can use their Data Notebooks or simply work collected by the teacher to share with parents.  The Student-Led Conference Sheet packet includes an Effort Scale, student reflections and goal-setting sheets and a script students can use to lead their conference.
3. The third option is an Open House to share student growth and learning. This option has been used more often in the spring when teachers are given less time for conferencing. Some students who are struggling may need a one-on-one conference with their parent and teacher. Students who are performing at or above grade level may enjoy sharing their learning at an Open House where 3 or 4 students can be scheduled during the same time slot.  

Here is how an Open House works. 

Five or six centers are set up in the classroom to highlight student learning.

These centers should represent different content areas and core standards that students are working on in each curricular area.  As students arrive at their scheduled time,

 they will be directed to begin at different center activities around the classroom. 

The teacher is available to assist or answer questions as needed. 

Below are some center examples made on trifold boards.

Each of these three conferencing methods require students to take responsibility for their own learning.  Students will utilize data or evidence to show growth, reflect on their learning and set goals for the future. They will walk away from any one of these conferences feeling  empowered and proud of themselves as they LEAD their own way to becoming a responsible learner.

You will walk away feeling proud too!  Have fun implementing student-led conferences in your classroom using one or two of these methods throughout the school year!